DESPITE Lancashire Constabulary having a crime-fighting record that contrasts creditably with those of other forces, many people will be concerned at our report tonight that suggests that police manpower resources are stretched perilously thin at times -- and perhaps when they need not be.

When, late at night, motorist Stuart Dewhurst found the radio had been stolen from his car while it was parked in a street in Blackburn's centre, he went to the town's central police station.

He found the reception desk unmanned, but was told that someone would deal with him in five minutes and after waiting for attention -- and being disregarded in the interim by an officer returning to the station -- he resorted to ringing the police on his mobile phone...from inside their own police station.

That proved to be of little avail, for as he reported the details of the theft, his call was cut off. He spent another 20 minutes at the station, ringing the bell at the reception desk for attention, only to be ignored.

It was only when two officers returned to the station that Mr Dewhurst was at last able to properly report the crime -- 45 minutes after his arrival.

It is alarming that such a situation could prevail at any time of day in a police station that is manned 24 hours a day -- more so, at the principal station of a sizeable town; and, above all, at one that is one of the force's divisional headquarters.

The explanation is that the inquiry desk was left unmanned because an officer had gone off sick at short notice and that the custody suite, which normally provides back-up cover, was unusually busy when Mr Dewhurst was seeking attention.

Even so, it is the case that many businesses dealing with the public suffer staff crises when some suddenly goes sick and still manage to cope -- and that, above all, an emergency service such as the police would be expected to. That it did not begs questions about the adequacy of its resources -- or the management of them and must be investigated.